Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government has once again proven its strong commitment to the state’s hardworking farmers. This year, when cotton (narma and desi) prices in the market were falling below the Minimum Support Price (MSP), the Mann government quickly stepped in and saved farmers from massive losses.
Initially, when cotton started arriving in mandis, private traders were buying it between ₹5,700 to ₹6,800 per quintal. These prices were significantly lower than MSP, causing major concern among farmers. In this difficult situation, on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s orders, the state government immediately pressured the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), a central government agency, to begin large-scale procurement.
Due to CCI’s active participation, cotton prices saw a dramatic improvement. Today, Punjab Mandi Board data confirms that the average price of narma cotton has crossed ₹7,500 per quintal, coming very close to the MSP of ₹7,710 per quintal. Similarly, desi cotton prices have also seen a significant jump. This is major relief for farmers who previously faced the compulsion of selling their crop at low prices. Thanks to the Mann government’s initiative, they are now getting fair value for their hard work.
Despite heavy rains and flooding in parts of Punjab this year, cotton arrivals have exceeded last year’s figures by over 1 lakh quintals. This shows that farmers still have faith in cotton cultivation due to the Mann government’s policies. As a result of the state government’s proactive approach, according to Mandi Board data, while CCI purchased only 170 quintals of cotton during the same period last year, this time, following government pressure, CCI has procured over 35,348 quintals. This large-scale procurement created a positive market atmosphere and prevented prices from falling.
The Mann government has ensured that Punjab’s farmers don’t face the crisis of selling their crops below MSP. Of the 2,30,423 quintals of cotton purchased by December 1, initially over 60% of the crop was sold below MSP, but this trend completely reversed after CCI’s entry.
Securing farmers’ profits and providing them economic strength is the main goal of the Mann government. This initiative clearly demonstrates that the government is ready to take immediate and effective action during crisis times to protect farmers’ interests. The Mann government is committed to the dignity and prosperity of farmers!
